TANYA TAGAQ SHARES “SNOWBLIND,” CRYSTALLINE AMBIENT SONG FROM FORTHCOMING TOOTHSAYER EP.

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TANYA TAGAQ SHARES “SNOWBLIND,” CRYSTALLINE AMBIENT COMPOSITION FROM FORTHCOMING TOOTHSAYER EP, OUT 3/1/19 VIA SIX SHOOTER RECORDS.

LISTEN TO “SNOWBLIND” HERE.

Toothsayer, conceptual electronic collection, originated as Royal Museums Greenwich (UK) commission.

Vinyl spoken-word edition of best-selling, New Yorker-reviewed debut novel Split Tooth out now. See highly NSFW cover art by graphic novelist Jaime Hernandez (Love and Rockets) here. 

 

Toothsayer album cover art by Kevin Earl Taylor

 

“Tagaq’s surreal meld of poetry and prose transmutes the Arctic’s boundless beauty, intensity, and desolation into a wrenching contemporary mythology.” – New Yorker

“Tagaq’s emotional intelligence is aspirational.” – Anupa Mistry, Globe and Mail

“An Inuk throat singer who’s got a fluidity in her rasp and a wail that reflects like crystal.” – Stereogum

 

For those unable to experience experimental Inuk artist Tanya Tagaq’s sonic contribution to National Maritime Museum’s “Polar Worlds” exhibit in situ in London, UK, Tagaq announces the work will be released as a digital EP titled Toothsayer via Six Shooter Records. Toothsayer, a 5-track soundscape created for the exhibit, expands Tagaq’s prestigious compositional work with ambient electronic and piano-driven textures.

With ecological precision and a crypto-travelogue narrative, Toothsayer features Tagaq working with long-time percussionist Jean Martin, who produced the EP. UK experimental electronic artist Ash Koosha, who met Tagaq for the first time when the artists were invited to work together for a BBC Late Junction session in 2017, also performs on “Snowblind” and “Submerged.”

“Snowblind,” the first song shared from the collection, expresses the sensory experience of snowblindness, a condition that can produce colourful pulsating shapes amidst darkness. The contrast of brightness and darkness, a recurring theme in Tagaq’s work, is at once environmental, physical,  emotional and political. “I named this Toothsayer because I always liked the term soothsayer, to look into the future and to speak wisely,” says Tagaq of the title. “Teeth represent protection and hunting in nature. We are going to have to get our fists up and our teeth out to carve our way to survival in this world.”

Organized as a categorical assessment of the different and extreme elements of the Nunavut winter, where “it’s so easy to succumb to death in the north purely by the elements, including the socio and political elements,” the EP also connects in title and theme with Split Tooth, Tagaq’s debut novel. The book, a powerfully permeative mythobiography about a girl growing up in Nunavut in the 1970s, was released in September 2018 and immediately found a place on the Giller Prize Long List, Canada’s top fiction prize. The work also appeared on year end Best Of lists including NPR, Globe and Mail, CBC, Toronto Star and more. Apple Music named the work Canada’s Best Canadian Audiobook; narrated by Tagaq with improvised vocal elements, Split Tooth’s fact-fiction-dreamscapes come alive in this spoken word form, which moves between silky hypnotic poetry and carotid-ripping song. Toothsayer travels a similar path to Split Tooth through poles of exquisite delicacy, frenzy and fury.

Toothsayer will be released March 1, 2019 on Six Shooter Records.

 

TOUR DATES:

WINNIPEG, MB: WECC, Jan 22*
SASKATOON, SK: Persephone Theatre, Jan 24*
GUELPH, ON: River Run Centre, Jan 25*
SEATTLE, WA: Meany Centre for the Performing Arts, Feb 8
OTTAWA, ON: Southminster United Church, Ottawa International Writers Festival, Feb 15
KINGSTON, ON: Isabel Bader Theatre, Mar 6, w/ NAC Orchestra
OTTAWA, ON: NAC, Mar 8 w/ NAC Orchestra
LONDON, UK: The Garage, Mar 27
WASHINGTON, DC: Millennium Stage, April 5
CALGARY, AB: Jack Singer Concert Hall, April 27 w/ Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
SAMUELSBERG, NORWAY: Riddu Riddu, Jul 10-14

*book reading + band performance

WHITEHORSE SHARE THEIR TAKE ON “JOHN THE REVELATOR,” AN OMINOUS RECKONING WITH A MODERN APOCALYPSE IN MIND.

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Who’s that writin’: Whitehorse share their take on “John The Revelator,” an ominous reckoning with a modern apocalypse in mind. Listen here.

Hot off holiday album coverage from Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, CBC’s q, The Edge and more, Toronto duo keeps rolling with The Northern South Vol. 2, out next week (1/18/19).

“These are six songs from the past, but Whitehorse revive them through their alternative instrumental contributions and their inventive vocals.” – PopMatters

 

Whitehorse delve into end of days overtones with a fuzzed out, swampy take on the nearly century-old seven seals song “John The Revelator,” the third track the duo has shared in advance of The Northern South Vol. 2’s upcoming release on Jan 18, 2019.

In keeping with the larger mission of The Northern South project, where Whitehorse transpose 50s and 60s blues cuts into a contemporary framework, the duo’s treatment of “John The Revelator” sees the biblical signs of the apocalypse modified to comment on present realities: political, environmental and beyond. “We wanted to tell a more current, relevant tale,” says Melissa McClelland, one half of the duo. “We pieced together the lyrics from several different versions to form something new, to touch on the end of days issues that feel pressing to us: global warming, Trump presidency, consumerism and religion itself, among other things.” Luke Doucet adds, “There’s a long history of rewriting this classic; many renditions include reworked lyrics since Blind Willie Johnson recorded it. So we’re not taking special liberties here but rather continuing the tradition of reinterpreting the story for the current era, as has repeatedly been the fashion.”

From the depression and disaster of the song’s 1930s origins to the present-day calamities that weigh on Whitehorse’s minds, “John The Revelator” remains an ominous and churning narrative, an unsettling minor key disaster fantasy. “John The Revelator” is much darker in tone than the previous tracks released thus far, the willingly provocative “Baby, Scratch My Back” and the back-and-forth self-blame game of “Who’s Been Talkin’.” Whitehorse’s harmonies and their canny interplay of lead vocals play exceptionally well as a reframing device throughout The Northern South’s two volumes (the first released in 2016) to underline the saucy, shady and slinky nuances of early blues.  

 

The Northern South Vol. 2 will be released on January 18, 2019.

 

 

 

SIX SHOOTER RECORDS WELCOMES INDUSTRY EXPERT ALLISON OUTHIT AS VP INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

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New position, based out of Six Shooter’s Toronto headquarters, will focus on expansion and market development for label and management companies.

 

Six Shooter Records is supremely thrilled to announce that music industry trailblazer and all-around impressive entertainment business veteran Allison Outhit has joined the independent label as VP International Business Development, a new position created to command and catalyze international profile, reach and activity.

Talented, driven and substantively experienced, Outhit brings her relentless pursuit of artist development and steadfast commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion to the label. With decades of executive-level experience across public and private entertainment entities alongside her years of working directly with artists to build sustainable, impactful careers, Outhit is an ideal and exciting addition to Six Shooter. With new signings to be announced, 2019 promises to be a compelling and crucial time of roster growth, extensive planning and expansive thinking.

“Six Shooter is poised for significant expansion in the next couple of years (we’ve got BIG PLANS),” says Six Shooter President Shauna de Cartier. “We are beyond excited to welcome a superstar like Allison to our company. She brings with her incredible insight, energy, BIG BRAINS, and a rock solid resume of experience and expertise, which will translate into even more international success for our artists.”

“Six Shooter’s commitment to long-term careers and their ever-burning fire to build, grow and expand internationally is a perfect fit for me,” says Outhit. “As a company and a team, Six Shooter is all about tenacity, loyalty, and generosity. I am so impressed by their artist-forward philosophy and their efforts to effect change in the industry. I want to help this become a diverse global brand.”

Outhit’s first international activity will be participating Canadian Heritage’s upcoming Trade Mission to Latin America, with stops in Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.

 

ABOUT ALLISON OUTHIT

Born in Halifax, Outhit began her career as a production assistant with UK concert giant Harvey Goldsmith. Over the next 10 years, Allison rounded all the corners at the intersection of Art and Commerce, with stints in community radio, journalism, music and video production, and arts administration in London, Montreal, Halifax and Toronto, while also completing a law degree.

After touring as lead guitarist/vocalist/songwriter with several bands, releasing multiple albums and inking a co-publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music, Allison went to work in film and television production, amassing over 70 hours of production credits and one Gemini nomination. In 2006, she left film production to join Toronto-based indie label/manager/distributor Outside Music as Head of Business Affairs.

In February 2011, Outhit joined the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) as its Vice President of Operations. At FACTOR, Allison was a key imagineer of program and operational changes that redesigned and reinvigorated Canada’s largest and most impactful music funding organization.

Allison is a lifelong fighter for social justice. She is proud to have been mentored in community legal advocacy by the late African-Nova Scotian activist Rocky Jones, and recently completed the Centennial Certificate in Leadership and Inclusion.

The proud recipient of the Halifax Pop Explosion’s 2014 Scene Builder Award, Outhit’s life in the musical trenches, along with her depth of entertainment business experience and legal knowledge, give her a skill set uniquely primed to help artists keep on keeping on.

SPLIT TOOTH VINYL AVAILABLE NOW.

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We are thrilled to offer a special vinyl edition of Tanya Tagaq’s bestselling, Giller Prize long-listed debut novel, “Split Tooth.” Our limited edition LP features poems excerpted from the audiobook, read by Tagaq.

You’ll want to see the very saucy, highly NSFW cover art by Love & Rockets’ artist Jaime Hernandez, who illustrated the book. Click the here below to reveal… if you dare.

ENSIGN BRODERICK’S “BLOODCRUSH” NOW AVAILABLE.

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Toxic lakes, wellness clinics and mud-caked bodies: the cardinal direction of Ensign Broderick’s BloodCrush is a saline fever dream, calibrated to the cultish wraith waste vibes of California’s Imperial Valley. Inspired by pilgrimage, anti-war protests, Decca-era Stones and Smetana, BloodCrush is the first new collection from an artist who announced himself earlier in 2018 with four archival albums of wildly ambitious, hyper-referential art pop, a fraction of his forty years’ of recordings.

Buy or stream BloodCrush here.

“YOU’LL WANT THEIR MUSIC IN YOUR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS” – POPMATTERS PREMIERES A WHITEHORSE WINTER CLASSIC.

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Well, it’s only been a few hours since the Great Pumpkin vanished, but you know what that means — the Christmas onslaught is on, and that goes for holiday albums, too. Fortunately, bringing the best of season’s greetings is Whitehorse, the Toronto-based husband-and-wife duo of Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland, and you’ll want their music in your home for the holidays.

A Whitehorse Winter Classic, a nine-song collection that included seven stunning originals written by Doucet and McClelland, along with faithful, delightful renditions of “Blue Christmas” and the Pretenders’ “2000 Miles”, will be released on Friday, 2 November via Six Shooter Records. But the Whitehorse power couple are presenting a sneak preview today at PopMatters by premiering the entire album.

CHECK OUT THE SERIOUS FOREPLAY BETWEEN THE VOCAL AND LEAD GUITAR ON WHITEHORSE’S TAKE ON SLIM HARPO’S “BABY, SCRATCH MY BACK.”

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Download & Stream “Baby, Scratch My Back” by Whitehorse here.

Make sure you don’t miss Whitehorse when they’re in your town. Subscribe to their tour dates here.

‘SPARKLING BALLADEER’ ENSIGN BRODERICK ANNOUNCES BLOODCRUSH, A SCORCHED MEDITATION ON POWER AND FALLIBILITY, FORTY YEARS IN THE MAKING.

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Toxic lakes, wellness clinics and mud-caked bodies: the cardinal direction of Ensign Broderick’s BloodCrush is a saline fever dream, calibrated to the cultish wraith waste vibes of California’s Imperial Valley. Inspired by pilgrimage, anti-war protests, Decca-era Stones and Smetana, BloodCrush is the first new collection from an artist who announced himself earlier in 2018 with four archival albums of wildly ambitious, hyper-referential art pop, a fraction of his forty years’ of recordings.

 

Pre-order BloodCrush on 180 gram vinyl or CD here. You can also pre-save on Spotify and Apple Music by following this link.

WHITEHORSE PREMIERES “WHO’S BEEN TALKIN'” VIDEO VIA GRETSCH GUITARS.

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Itches, urges, dirges and scourges: welcome back to The Northern South. Whitehorse makes their return to the early days of electric blues with the second installment of a project that melds original grooves and melodies with the duo’s steamy, swampy, squalling approach. There’s foreplay, foreboding, fever and Fenders, plenty of them, from top to bottom, with cuts from Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed and Slim Harpo and more.

Watch Whitehorse’s latest video for their single “Who’s Been Talkin'” via Gretsch Guitars Facebook page below.

Whitehorse is also giving you the chance to win a Gretsch Billy Bo guitar this fall. Click here to enter.

SPLIT TOOTH NOMINATED FOR 2018 GILLER PRIZE.

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Tanya Tagaq’s stunning new book, Split Tooth, hits the shelves on Tuesday, September 25, but it’s already been added to his year’s Giller Prize long list. The long list was selected by a five-member jury made up of Canadian writer and journalist Kamal Al-Solaylee(Jury Chair); playwright Maxine Bailey, who is vice-president of advancement for the Toronto International Film Festival; American writer John Freeman; English novelist Philip Hensher and Canadian author Heather O’Neill.

“We were looking for books that were written in elevated, idiosyncratic, original prose that exhibited an exquisite command of the art of language, and unparalleled mastery of structure and storytelling,” the jury said in a statement. “We argued viciously over books, expounding on their merits. But when the battle was over, what remained left us in awe.”

Read the full list of nominees via the Toronto Star here.

The Six Shooter Records’ Webstore is offering a limited edition Split Tooth package that includes Split Tooth and seal skin bookmark made by Snowfly. Buy it here.

 

“THE WET SECRETS TRIP OUT IN RETRO ‘GIVE IT TO ME STRAIGHT’ VIDEO.” – EXCLAIM

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The Wet Secrets banded together with director Jay Lawrence to create this retro shape-shifting music video for the band’s single “Give It To Me Straight.” Head over to Exclaim.ca to catch the full story and video.

The Wet Secrets will be in Hamburg, Germany next week to perform at the annual Reeperbahn festival. Tickets & info here.

Click here to buy, stream or download “The Tyranny of Objects” by The Wet Secrets.

WHITEHORSE SHUFFLES THE DECK WITH THE NORTHERN SOUTH VOL. 2

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SECOND INSTALMENT OF JUNO AWARD-NOMINATED PROJECT DEALS 1950s BLUES BOPS, HELLFIRE GOSPELS AND SEXED-UP CUTS. 

LISTEN TO LEAD TRACK, HOWLIN’ WOLF’S “WHO’S BEEN TALKIN'” NOW.  

Itches, urges, dirges and scourges: welcome back to The Northern South. Whitehorse makes their return to the early days of electric blues with the second instalment of a project that melds original grooves and melodies with the duo’s steamy, swampy, squalling approach. There’s foreplay, foreboding, fever and Fenders — plenty of them — with cuts from Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed, Slim Harpo and more.

“Blues gave rock ‘n’ roll its nerve. It breaks, bends and distorts rules,” offers Melissa McClelland, one half of the duo. “This sense of abandon, emotional and musical urgency trickled into all forms of modern day music. There would be no Cardi B without Lucille Bogan. There would be no Tom Waits without Howlin’ Wolf and there would be no Stones without any of it.”

On opener “Who’s Been Talkin’” (1957), Luke Doucet serves up a hearty White Falcon slice of love and respect for Howlin’ Wolf and his right-hand man, guitar hero Hubert Sumlin, while melodica and Wurlitzer wind around the deft dance of the lyrics. “The nuance of simultaneously accepting responsibility and accusing a lover of doing him wrong was very subtle,” says Doucet. “It’s a rabbit hole of contrition.”

From there, Whitehorse gets loose and languid with a Jimmy Reed via J.J. Cale take on “Baby What You Want Me To Do” (1959). With a few Gretsch squelches for good measure, Whitehorse’s tribute to Reed’s laid-back minimalism and melody mastery moves along no faster than a Sunday morning.

An exercise in subtlety it is not: Whitehorse’s version of Slim Harpo’s “Baby, Scratch My Back” (1965) is a lap dance, an unapologetically erotic, red-hot take. With McClelland on lead vocals upending the original dynamic, Whitehorse’s version is one of female desire and pleasure. Less girls gone wild, more sexual intellectual.

Next up is “I Just Wanna Make Love To You” (1954), a Willie Dixon original given a Jon Spencer Blues Explosion-inspired treatment—McClelland’s idea. “It would be impossible to top Etta James’ steaming vocal, so I suggested we turn ourselves into a garage rock band, a little scrappier, punchier and live off the floor.”

From a turbulent, direful crackling rapture to a haunting, minor key requiem, The Northern South Vol. 2 goes further back in time with two traditional gospel blues selections, “John The Revelator” and “St. James Infirmary.” The latter features one of the EP’s highlights: a righteous noisescape outro from McClelland, played on Doucet’s Les Paul. “John the Revelator was an interesting song to delve into,” says McClelland. “We liked the intensity of the end of times bible story but we wanted it to tell a more current, relevant tale. With some new words, we touch on the end of days issues that feel pressing to us: global warming, the Trump presidency, consumerism, and religion itself.”

Both snapshot and slingshot,The Northern South Vol. 2 cycles back and careens forward, taking a twelve-bar trip through the chart-toppers of the era.  “These aren’t deep cuts, they are the Top 40, the pop hits of the blues world, what was happening at the time,” explains Doucet of the song selection process. “These songs spoke to the basics. They communicated simple truths and realities in ways that transcended boundaries.”

The Northern South Vol. 2 will be released January 18, 2019.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Who’s Been Talkin’ (Howlin’ Wolf)
2. Baby, What You Want Me to Do (Jimmy Reed)
3. John the Revelator (Traditional)
4. Baby, Scratch My Back (Slim Harpo)
5. I Just Wanna Make Love to You (Willie Dixon)
6. St. James Infirmary (Traditional)

Listen to the first single Who’s Been Talkin’ on Spotify below or click here to listen on your preferred streaming service.